Run: 2026-09-03-01M1KZRZ8NSRJ8F2VCMSKCX2PJ

The morning rush had faded at the small-town bakery, Flour & Fortune, leaving the scent of butter and cardamom lingering in the air. Sunlight pooled across the worn oak counter, and a single orange tabby slept atop a stack of recipe cards. Near the register, a crumb-covered note waited beside a cup of chamomile tea. The old safe behind the counter stood slightly ajar, its dial still warm. “Someone took the cinnamon roll recipe right out of the safe.” “Not just took it. They left that.” A nudge of a chin toward the glass case, where a smudge of lavender frosting marked the empty shelf. “Lavender? Nobody around here uses lavender except—” “Exactly. And the judge for the bake-off was found dozing in the town square with a pocketful of our stolen dough.” “That’s not proof. It’s pastry.” “It’s motive wrapped in buttercream. Someone wanted the blue ribbon badly enough to crumb the competition.” A pause. The tabby stretched, knocking a pencil onto the floor. “You think it was Mabel?” “I think we should check her apron pockets before the judging begins.” “Then let’s not crumb this investigation.” “Agreed. But first, another scone.” The tabby flicked an ear, as if it entirely agreed.